"Gavin and I met at a Christmas party through mutual friends. For the next year our paths would occasionally cross. Gavin was always good fun to be with and could always make me laugh. However, it wasn't until a year and a half later that we became closer after we started working together. He was in my office one day and had recently become single. I knew that people like Gavin don't stay single for long, so I blurted out, "Fancy going for lunch?" I'm not usually so forthcoming, but it was the start of great things to come!

"Gavin proposed after about 15 months of being together. Six weeks prior to asking me, he was at the driving range with my dad and asked for my hand in marriage. He proposed on the 5th of November 2006; we were enjoying a weekend away to a beautiful hotel called Slaley Hall in Northumberland. We had a fantastic day of being pampered then dined at the restaurant. Gavin had asked me if I wanted to take a walk outside but I had told him I hadn't brought a coat that would match my dress... unbeknown to me, he was going to propose outside under the stars! As I scuppered that plan, he proposed after our meal, by getting down on one knee. I still remember it as though it was yesterday, it was a perfect moment... I burst into tears, said yes and the other diners started to clap!

"Before we became engaged, Gavin had been on a course in Leeds. I picked him up from a train station I had not driven to before, which is when I saw a hotel, lit with fairy lights, looking amazing. When I collected Gavin and drove past, I said, "I think I'd like to get married there one day"... What I didn't realise at that point was that Gavin had bought me an engagement ring, which was in his bag at that very moment. So the first thing we did as an engaged couple was to book the hotel!

"The next most important thing was to organise Gavin's wedding present. I knew long before we became engaged what I was going to get him - I booked him an Aston Martin DB9 for the weekend. It took me months to save up for it, but it was worth every penny; the car arrived the day before the wedding, Gavin believed he had it for an hour, his face was a picture when he realised it was for three days! I

"Gavin supported me in all my decisions, so there were very few things he had differing ideas about. However there were two aspects upon which he was rather insistent... firstly, pink, as the highlight colour was out... he was NOT going to wear pink... ever...! Next, he wanted to decide on how each table was identified... it's a bit of a tradition among his friends that the men decide on what the table will be called; Gavin is movie mad, so he went with James Bond Films. It worked perfectly with the Aston Martin I had hired and helped shape much of the theme of the wedding. The men wore tuxedos, cocktails were given for the drink upon arrival and large cocktail glasses were used as table centre pieces.

"My dress was a Maggie Sottero dress from Proposals in Abbeygate, Grimsby. It had a wonderfully fitted bodice and I loved the way it sparkled. As soon as I stepped out of the changing room and saw myself in it, I knew it was the one.

"The morning of our wedding was calm. I woke at 4am, but luckily so did my bridesmaid, Caroline, so the first few hours flew by as we laughed and chatted about old times. I dressed at the hotel and when I arrived, there was a present waiting for me from Gavin. He had created a photo album that had one picture from each memorable event we have shared together with a few words of his memory of it. Needless to say it brought tears to my eyes! It was such an amazing present that I shall cherish for ever!

"Later in the morning, Gavin called and spoke to one of my bridesmaids. He told me to look under the pillow on the bed, on the side I would normally sleep. There I found a diamond bracelet - needless to say more tears!

"There were many special moments through the day. One such time was at our speeches. Prior to the wedding Gavin and I were going to write our own vows, but I was too nervous and decided to stick to the original wording. So when Gavin stood up to make his speech he asked me to stand with him as he was going to tell me the vows he had written. Gavin was so nervous, that he never actually included them in the speech, but there still wasn't a dry eye in the house as you could see the love in his eyes. Later on, at our last dance, he whispered the vows to me.

"My bridesmaids were amazing too. Caroline, had bought me, My Best Friends Wedding on DVD which we watched together on the last day of my amazing hen do. Then on the day of the wedding, whilst we were having pictures taken on the lawn, my four bridesmaids burst into song, singing, from the film, 'Say a Little Prayer'.

For Gavin it was all about the car, "the moment the Aston Martin turned up was an incredible moment. I've always wanted to drive one and when I realised I would be driving myself and Barry, and my Usher, Iain to my wedding in it, I was totally blown away!

Gavin finishes with, "we had such a strong relationship before marriage and it continues to be brilliant. It was the best decision I ever made and am looking forward to the years ahead!"